to the summer edition of the Stoke-on-Trent Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Families' Newsletter. We hope our regular publication will help to keep you updated on what is going on in the city for children and young people with SEND.
A message from Natalie Willams -Strategic Manager - SEND
As we draw the term to a close it is a great time to reflect on the academic year behind us and all the hope and opportunities there are in front of us. The summer holidays can be both wonderful and stressful all at the same time, worries about childcare, what do to entertain the children, school uniforms, starting new schools, the endless snacks…. I don’t think I need to go on! But let’s take just a moment to reflect before the holiday period starts.
I would like to thank everyone; parents, professionals and the children and young people themselves for the honesty, commitment and fun that we have had over the last year. The city SEND partnership commitment and solidarity that we see and feel was observed by Ofsted and CQC when they came in January this year. We absolutely acknowledge the findings and agree that we have so much more to do to improve the lived experience for each and every child and their family in the city but also agree that we have some great practice, positive experiences and amazing children and young people who are getting the right support to thrive.
Watch this space as the new SEND Strategy will be launched during the summer ready for September 2024. The partnership is looking forward to bringing new workstreams together to drive forward the vision that has been created and agreed across the entire partnership with schools and settings providing the strong child and young person voice from Inclusion week.
I hope you all manage to have some time doing what you love over the summer and I will say goodbye as I will leaving Stoke-on-Trent at the end of August. Hopefully I will see a lot of people in person before I go but if I don’t it has been both a pleasure and a privilege to spend two and half a years in Stoke-on-Trent and I cannot wait to see how SEND in the city continues on its improvement journey.
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Reminder to SENCOs that they are welcome to join the Education Panel which occurs every Tuesday from 9.30am until 12.30pm. If you would like to join please contact senmas@stoke.gov.uk
... on Manor Abbey Free SEMH Free School
A message from Manor Abbey Special Free School:
Manor Abbey Special Free School is part of the family of 15 Special Schools and Alternative Provision managed by Manor Hall Academy Trust. The trust was formed by the federation of two SEMH schools in 2015, and its wealth of experience and knowledge in the SEND sector contributes to a holistic, high-quality educational offering for all children and young people.
Manor Abbey will be purpose-built, designed specifically to cater to the needs of students with Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties. Drawing upon the collective expertise of the entire trust, the school will provide a comprehensive educational experience.
The school’s ethos aligns with the trust’s overarching aims of building relationships, celebrating success, and promoting progress. Establishing strong relationships is fundamental to engaging SEMH students and facilitating their learning and progress. These relationships also serve as a foundation for students to learn self-advocacy and experience success beyond their school years.
David Bownds is the Executive Headteacher and has played a key role in co-writing the initial bid for the Free School and has been deeply involved in the project’s development. With over 22 years of experience in special education, he spent the last six years as the headteacher of Staffordshire’s lone secondary Social Emotional and Mental Health school. In his new role as Executive Headteacher, he will provide leadership for both schools, facilitating mutual support and the sharing of best practices in the complex and challenging field of education.
Jack Beech is the Head of School at Manor Abbey. Jack has over 10 years of experience working across both special and mainstream education. His wealth of experience comes from teaching in Alternative Provision and Independent SEMH specialist schools with an emphasis on relational practice. Jack specialises in Social, Emotional and Mental Health with Senior Leadership experience in developing the holistic pastoral approaches that schools can take to support students and their families. Jack’s most recent role saw him directing SEND across a large multi academy trust. Jack will work alongside David Bownds, leading the school’s ethos and vision.
The curriculum at Manor Abbey will meet the requirements of the National Curriculum while allowing for personalised learning journeys tailored to individual needs. Teaching methods and learning styles will be adapted to help students overcome any barriers they may have faced in previous school settings.
The school believes that the combination of high-quality relationships and personalised learning approaches is a proven formula for success in SEMH settings. Manor Abbey Special Free School will provide an aspirational environment for students who may have had negative experiences in the past, offering them a vibrant, relevant, and enjoyable educational experience.
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 Ambassador Programme
 The Ambassador Programme is a joint NHS/Stoke Local Authority project supported by PEGiS that has been piloted within some secondary schools. The aim of the programme is to provide training to young people to enable them to provide peer support and guidance in school to peers who may have emerging mental health needs.
The Ambassadors will be equipped to provide low level mental health support and they will gain an awareness and knowledge about local services so they are able to signpost peers to appropriate support. The programme is suitable for young people aged 13 years and over and they will be offered ongoing supervision supported by NHS and Local Authority staff. There will also be opportunities for them to work closely with local NHS services and the Local Authority to provide a young person’s voice and contribute to shaping services to meet the needs of young people.
Thirty-three young people within Stoke on Trent schools completed the Ambassador Programme as part of the pilot. Feedback rated the sessions as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ with Ambassadors identifying positive ways that the training had helped them:
“To support people.”
“Keep myself safe.”
“Improved listening skills.”
“Having a conversation.”
The training for the programme has been delivered by NHS and SEND Service staff, however we actively encourage secondary school staff to attend our train the trainer day on Monday 23 September 2024 at Hazel Trees. Once school staff have completed the training, the materials to support the delivery of the programme within your school will be provided. To find out more information or to book a place on the training day please email either Deb Boughey Deborah.Boughey@combined.nhs.uk or Rebecca Rawlinson Rebecca.Rawlinson@stoke.gov.uk
An update from MPFT
Here's what's gone on in MPFT since the last newsletter:
Engagement with SENDIASS
Heather Watson and Kim Edge came and presented at the MPFT/CHC SEND Champions meeting.
Heather and Kim discussed the SENDIASS service and opportunities to work in partnership with MPFT and CHC Children’s services.
Family Hubs / Supporting Families
The Family Hubs / Supporting Families service has been working closely together with the MPFT 0-19 Service to develop the offer for parenting support for parents / carers of children / young people with SEND.
The SEND team also delivered training in:
- Behaviour that Challenges
- ADHD
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs
This demonstrates how we are working together to ensure our practitioners are well equipped to support families .
Occupational Therapy
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Service have developed a new resource to support functional skills :
Putting On Socks: https://youtu.be/C_fqJIS7kgk
All videos can be found on the website: 'How to' videos :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (mpft.nhs.uk)
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy has a menu of training that is available. Further information can be found at www.stokespeaks.org/training - detailing the service training offer covering Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
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Makaton Taster Session
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19 June
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09:30 - 11:30
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£15
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MS Teams
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Staged Pathway (Stoke & Staffordshire practitioners only)
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03 July
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09:30 - 11:45
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Free
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MS Teams
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Early Communication Screen
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18 September
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09:30 - 12:00
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£50
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MS Teams
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Makaton Level 1
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24 September
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09:00 - 16:30
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£95
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Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre
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Autism Acceptance Week
Autism Acceptance Week is a yearly event planned around Autism Acceptance Day on 2 April each year.
Autism Acceptance Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and acceptance of autism across the city. Schools across Stoke on Trent celebrated with a variety of activities including:
- staff awareness and acceptance training
- peer awareness and acceptance through PSHE and whole school assemblies
- fundraising activities
- creative art projects
- poetry competitions
- and even a buffet lunch!
A special mention should go to the following schools:
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St Peter’s Academy for always celebrating Autism Acceptance week in style! (see picture attached)
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Moorpark Juniors who are doing excellent work towards their Level 1 Autism Friendly School Status this term
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Greenways Primary Academy who held their own autism awareness day! They had a multi-coloured non-uniform day, an art lesson based on colour (each child created a colourful square for a whole school mosaic showcasing how we are all unique individually). The children also took part in a bubble run on the playground funded by the PTFA – sounds so much fun!!
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St Gregory’s Catholic Academy for excellent engagement from staff during their whole school Autism training during awareness week – all the staff were keen to implement the strategies they had learned
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Burnwood Primary who have passed the Level 1 Autism Friendly School Status this term. Well done - you are going above and beyond for Autistic children in your school!
If any school would like further information in regards to Autism training or the Autism Friendly School Award – please contact SEND Support Services via Jane Plant Jane.Plant@stoke.gov.uk
Autism Acceptance Week at St Peter's Academy
What is autism?
- People with autism have a different way of experience, processing and looking at the world.
- Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a 'cure'.
- Having autism does not mean you have an illness or disease.
- You can't see if someone has autism.
- Each person with autism is different.
People with autism have strengths and need help with different things.
 St Peter's C of E Academy created a poster which was displayed around the Academy to raise awareness of autism. They also posted information on their Facebook page and invited students to a buffet lunch where they were asked to contribute to writing on a word board and joining in messy activities and social games of their choosing.
Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Phase Transfers
An EHC Plan must be reviewed and amended in sufficient time prior to a child moving between key phases of education to allow for planning and where necessary, commissioning of support and provision at the new institution.
Year 6
Stoke-on-Trent SENMAS team ask that all year 6 review be completed and submitted by around October half term to allow time for the us to amend the EHCP, source the child’s year 7 placement and ensure the EHCP is finalised in time for the 15 February deadline.
Year 11
All Annual Review meetings for Y11 students must be held during the autumn term and review paperwork to be sent to the SENMAS Team by the end of December 2024. This will allow time for us to amend the EHCP and name a post 16 placement by the statutory deadline of the 31st March 2025.
Annual Reviews
In line with the SEND legislation the first review MUST be held within 12 months of the date of the finalised EHC Plan, and then within 12 months of any previous review (unless under the age of 5 in which case every 6 months). Completed review paperwork within 2 weeks of the meeting taking place should be sent to SENMAS@stoke.gov.uk.
Please ensure that you plan annual review meetings throughout the year for pupils in your setting, giving plenty of time to complete and return paperwork on time.
Preparation for Adulthood
It is a statutory responsibility to ensure preparing for adulthood (PfA) is included within an EHCP for a young person from year 9 onwards. All settings are expected to provide new strengths and needs (section B), learning outcomes (Section E) and provision (Section F) for all young people in year 9 and for any in year 10 onwards where this is not already included, at the annual review for PfA.
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Higher Horizons
Higher Horizons is part of the Uni Connect programme, whose aim is to increase participation in higher education among under-represented groups. Based centrally at Keele University, but with hubs at the universities of Staffordshire, Chester and Harper Adams, our specialist projects team engages with young people between the ages of 11 and 19 from such groups as young carers and care experienced, refugee/asylum seekers, Gypsy Romany, show people and boat people, those with special educational needs and ethnic minorities. They work with individuals up to larger groups on specialist projects. These include university campus experiences at one or all of our institutions. These include campus tours, interactive academic sessions delivered by lecturers on a variety of topics, and advice on pathways to HE, student finance, options and much more. They are designed to bust myths and to instil a sense of belonging among young people who feel higher education might not be for them. If you’re interested in knowing more, please contact either Specialist projects co-ordinator, Emma Baines, at e.baines1@keele.ac.uk or specialist projects officer, Richard Seymour, at r.a.seymour@keele.ac.uk.
The Shine Award
We are happy to celebrate that Brook Cottage Childcare in Norton Green has successfully met the criteria for the SHINE award, proving that it provides an excellent inclusive environment for all children. Parents of children with SEND at Brook Cottage are thrilled with the support that their children receive there and feel that there is nothing that they would change about the setting. They feel that their children were made very welcome and are particularly happy that they are included in every aspect of nursery life and have the same opportunities as all other children.
Brook Cottage now joins Rosy Cheeks nurseries in Bentilee and Tunstall, The Crescent Preschool (Meir) and Tiny Toez Nursery in East Valley (Sneyd Green) in having successfully gained this accreditation.
Any private or voluntary nursery, preschool or childminder in Stoke-on-Trent can apply for the award. Applicants must have an OFSTED rating of Good or Outstanding and the award must be reapplied for after 2 years.
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Preparing for adulthood
We asked some of our students for feedback about different areas of Preparing for Adulthood.
These are some of the answers students in mainstream secondary schools and colleges gave us.
Q Do you know the different things you can choose to do at the end of Year 11?
- I understand what college courses are available for me at when I finish Y11.
- I could go to university after college, or I could apply for jobs. I also knew about apprenticeships but that wouldn’t be the best idea for me.
- I'm unsure what's available
- Yes; I would like to do bricklaying, carpentry, electrical installation or gardening. I would like to go to college, but you can also so apprenticeships.
Q Do you know how your healthcare changes when you are 18? What would make it easier to get used to these changes?
- Some stuff you have to start to pay for. Also I can speak to the doctors myself without my mum having to ring them.
- I would be classed as an adult so I think this means that I am responsible for my own healthcare.
- I do not know how my healthcare changes when I am 18.
- I must start paying for certain things.
Q What do you need to practise to be able to live independently? What life skills would you like more support with?
- I know that I need to be more independent, but I am unsure how. I think I will always live with my mum and dad. I do not know how I will travel to and from college.
- I think i am already quite independent.
- Cooking and learning how to pay bills. Also improving my social skills to be able to speak to people about my house. Eg when paying bills.
- Learning how to spread my money and food over a month and not using it all at once. I would also need to learn how to cook.
We asked a group of students at a specialist college about what is important to them.
100% of those asked agreed that making friends, being treated as an adult, developing relationships, getting fit and
100% of the students asked agreed that planning their annual review meeting was important. All these students aattend their annual review meetings and, with support from staff, create a Powerpoint to share their voice and show their progress in the meeting.
83% of students considered that learning to cope with their feelings, helping other people, learning about money, sharing their opinions, learning, volunteering and taking responsibility for their actions and behaviour was important.
Solution Circles
Solution Circles (SC) are online group consultations that are free and open to all schools and settings in the city. The aim is to provide support and strategies to Stoke-on-Trent schools to become “unstuck” with persistent challenges, whilst also developing support networks between schools.
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The process
Solution Circles last for 1 hour and contain the following steps:
- problem presentation
- summary
- pupil voice
- solution generation
- discussion and clarification
- generation of hypotheses
- next steps
Number
Since October 2021, Stoke-on-Trent EPS have facilitated 51 Solution Circles.
Topics
A range of topics have been discussed including:
- attachment
- ASD
- EBSNA
- speech and language
- behaviour
- wellbeing
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Feedback data
Evaluation of the solution circles with previous attendees revealed that 93.7% of presenters ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they felt they had a better understanding of the issue raised following the SC.
Comments:
‘Pupil voice was interesting and hard hitting. We see behaviours but don’t have the time to take a step back and ask “What are you trying to tell me?”’ ‘The time to reflect is valuable, it gives time to be focused and it is nice to access fellow professionals.’
‘A helpful discussion. It’s nice to feel we are doing the right things.’
'Next steps are succinct and quick to implement.’ ‘We feel a lot more positive regarding options for next steps.’ ‘We now have a list of strategies to try. A plan to move forward with.’
Data was collected using MS Forms. 16 responses submitted between September
2023 - May 2024.
To book or enquire about a Solution Circle please email asep@stoke.gov.uk
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